Virginia Tech® home

John Munsell

Professor and Forest Management Extension Specialist
Headshot of John Munsell
address icon

Location:

Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
304 Cheatham Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
icon

Contact:

jfmunsel@vt.edu
(540) 231-1611

Tags

John Munsell is Professor of Forest Management and Extension Specialist in Virginia Tech’s Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. John studies the environmental, social, and economic benefits of sustainable forestry and agroforestry practices with communities from Appalachia to Central Africa. He was President of the Association for Temperate Agroforestry from 2015-2017 and served as an Agroforestry Systems Associate Editor for more than 10 years. In 2017, he chaired the 15th North American Agroforestry Conference in Blacksburg and represented North America during the concluding “road map” plenary session at the 4th World Congress on Agroforestry in Montpellier, France in 2018. In 2019, John received the Outreach and Education Award from the Association for Temperate Agroforestry for extraordinary accomplishments in the field of agroforestry engagement. John also leads annual advanced silviculture training for federal agency foresters from across the country.

Education

  • Ph.D., Forest Resources Management, State University of New York, 2007
  • M.S., State University of New York, 2003
  • B.A., Tulane University, 1995

  • FREC/CSES 4334 – Agroforestry Practices and Principles, 3-credit hours

  • Agroforestry
  • Sustainable Forest Management
  • Community Engagement and Partnerships

Example Refereed Products (total = 64); *denotes graduate student

  • Munsell, J.F., B.J. Addlestone, C.J Bukowski*, L. Nkembi, N. Kingsly, and E.A. Moore*. 2018. Relationships between agroforestry and community development according to practitioners. Agroforestry Systems. 92(5):1387-1396.
  • Juster, S.H.*, J.F. Munsell, M. Njenga, and C. Okia. 2025. Tree-Based Intervention Typologies and Improvements in Refugee Displacement Regions. International Journal of Population Studies.
  • Sheban, K.C., S.E. Kuebbing, M.C. Duguid, M.S. Ashton, A.C. McAlvay, J.F. Munsell, J. Orefice, and M.A Bradford. 2025. Beyond tree planting: Keeping forests on the agroforestry agenda. Nature Climate Change. 15(2025):581-584.
  • Trozzo, K.E.*, J.F. Munsell, J.L. Chamberlain, M.A. Gold, and K.L. Niewolny. 2021. Forest farming: Who wants in? Journal of Forestry. 119(5):478-492.
  • Wilkens, P.*, J.F. Munsell, J.H. Fike, G.J. Pent, and G.E. Frey. 2022. Is livestock producers' interest in silvopasture related to their operational perspectives or characteristics? Agroforestry Systems. 96(3):541-551.
  • Wilkens, P.*, J.F. Munsell, J.H. Fike, G.J. Pent, G.E. Frey, B.J. Addlestone, and A.K. Downing. 2022. Thinning forests or planting fields? Producer preferences for establishing silvopasture. Agroforestry Systems. 96(3):553-564.
  • Coffey, S.E.*, J.F. Munsell, R. Hübner, and C.R. Friedel. 2021. Public food forest opportunities and challenges in small municipalities. Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems. 6(1).
  • Hemmelgarn, H.L. and J.F. Munsell. 2021. Exploring ‘beyond-food’ opportunities for biocultural conservation in urban forest gardens. Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems. 6(1).
  • Kruger, S.L.*, J.F. Munsell, J.L. Chamberlain, J.M. Davis, and R.D. Huish. 2020. Describing medicinal non-timber forest product trade in eastern deciduous forests of the United States. Forests. 11(4):435.
  • Kruger, S.L.*, J.F. Munsell, J.L. Chamberlain, J.M. Davis, and R.D. Huish. 2020. Projecting medicinal plant trade volume and value in deciduous forests of the Eastern United States. Forests. 11(1):74.

  • Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition (AFFC) Principal
  • American Forest Farming Association (AFFA) Principal
  • Point-of-Harvest Program – Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Product Sourcing Architect
  • Agroforestry for Conflict Mitigation and Resource Sustainability
  • National Advanced Silviculture Program Module 3 Principal